Shed Terminology

Getting confused between apex and pent?

Struggling to know the difference between dip and pressure treatment?

When it comes to buying a shed it can be rather daunting, especially when faced with some very technical terms. This guide will take through all the terminology used when buying sheds and other garden buildings.

Take a look at our 'Shed Terminology Explained' video for even more information.

All of our wooden sheds have some form of preservative
treatment to prevent the timber from rotting due to adverse weather and fungal
decay. Two types of shed treatment are available: dip-treated and pressure
treated.

Dip Treatment: Dip-treated shedsare the most common and they can be
recognised by their cedar-red finish. Dip-treating is the quickest and cheapest
method of applying preservative to the sheds' timber but it is not as long
lasting as pressure treatment and so requires regular applications of brush
preservatives to maintain protection.

Pressure Treatment:Pressure-treated shedshave the preservative forced deep into
the heart of the wood and the grain structure under vacuum pressure. In effect,
the preservative becomes an integral part of the timber giving it a long life
and effective protection against rot. Anti-rot guarantees with pressure treated
sheds can be as much as 15 years.

Apart from longevity, the biggest benefit of a pressure-treated shed is that
you never need to apply preservative throughout its lifetime. A more subjective
consideration is that the pressure treatment leaves the shed with a more natural timber colour which you may prefer.

Garden sheds not only come in all shapes and sizes but they also
have different types of construction. The three that are the most common are Overlap, Shiplap and Tongue & Groove .

Overlap
Sheds:Overlap
sheds are the easiest and cheapest of the three construction types to
manufacture and so they are relatively less expensive.Basically, 8mm rough-sawn timber boards are nailed to the vertical bearers of
the shed and overlapped. The overlapping of the boards allows the timber to
shrink and expand easily - which it naturally does throughout the year – but
without warping. The overlapping also allows the rain to run away but overlap
boards do not form a close seal so they are more prone to moisture ingress and
draughts. Not a problem if the shed is to be used for garden
storage but if you intend to spend a lot of time in there, say, for a
hobby or leisure activity, you should consider a tongue & groove or
overlap-matched shed.

Shiplap: Shiplap cladding has the
appearance of a tongue and groove shed along with many other similarities including strength. A recess is cut into the edge of the timber boards so that the boards
can overlap very slightly, this creates a relatively tight seal which will protect
your shed from the elements as well as allowing the rain water to run off
effectively. This cladding is also secure and durable.

Tongue & Groove Sheds: Larger
sheds that are more likely to be used as garden workshops are made
using a tongue & groove construction and with
thicker, smooth-planed 12mm boards. The interlocking of the thicker boards
leaves no gaps and means that the shed is better protected from draughts and
rain - essential if you spend many hours in there. Also because 12mm boards are
used, there is less movement in the wood due to seasonal variations in
temperature and humidity.

Shed Construction Types

Shed Roof Types

Apex: With an apex shed, the roof is in two wooden sections which meet
at the highest point to create an upturned ‘V’ shape. Unlike a pent roof, the
maximum height of an apex roof runs centrally from the front to the back. The
height of the eaves is designed to allow for generous storage at the sides
while allowing for optimum standing height in the centre so that you can work
comfortably.

Reverse Apex: With a reverse apex shed it is same design as an apex shed but it is turned around. The 'V' Shape slopes down to the front and back of the shed whereas a standard apex shed will slope either side. The maximum height runs from side to side rather from the front to the back, perfect for allowing more headroom along the width of the shed.

Pent: With a pent shed the roof is formed using a single sheet of wood
that slopes from the front of the building to the back at an angle of about 15
degrees. The slope is optimal to provide sufficient height for the door at the
front and to ensure rain runs off the back of the shed.A pent roof is ideal for garden sheds that are is to be situated against a
fence or wall, or is going to be tucked under overhanging branches. Obviously,
as the roof slopes from the front to back, the maximum height is at the front of
the shed – this is useful to bear in mind when planning the layout of your
shelving and your internal work space.

Roof Bracing:Roof bracing (or roof framing) is a vital part of a solid
shed-construction but it is all-to-often not a purchasing consideration. The
importance of roof bracing becomes more apparent as the shed gets larger in
size – if you’ve ever seen a sagging shed roof, you’ll know what we mean - put
simply, quality roof bracing can mean the difference between a sturdy,
long-lasting shed and one that is unlikely to stand the test of time. If you are looking to buy a larger shed or workshop it’s advisable to check the
thickness of the framing and whether it is supplied with a truss. A truss is an
extra support in the centre of the roof that adds more strength and stability.

On larger, premium sheds, planed framing (also known as PAR or Planed All
Round) is often used for the bracing. This type of bracing is of higher quality
and is generally thicker - often up to 45 x 45mm - than the rough-sawn bracing
used on cheaper sheds. The main advantages of PAR bracing are that it has a
much smoother finish (saving you from splinters and making it easier to build),
it’s water resistant and it provides a much sturdier garden building. All our
heavy duty workshops come with PAR bracing and the larger workshops have 45 x
45mm framing with a middle roof truss for added strength and stability.

Question: When is a shed not just a shed?Answer: When it’s a pressure-treated shed with shiplap cladding, reverse apex roof and OSB flooring!

Arbour- A light, open
structure either formed from trees, shrubs, or vines closely planted and twined
together to be self-supporting or formed from a latticework frame covered with
plants. Arbours are generally less extensive and less substantial than "pergolas".

Cabana- A small cabin, simple
enclosure, or tent-like structure erected at beaches or swimming pools as
bathhouses.

Floor Joists– Wooden beams that sit
parallel beneath the flooring, to provide added protection against surface
damp. Floor joists must be supported by a firm and level base

Gardenhouse- An ornamental, usually
open, garden structure used for dining, viewing, or relaxing.

Gazebo- A small structure,
usually roofed and open-sided, located in gardens or parks from which one may
gaze out over the surrounding grounds.

Greenhouse- A structure enclosed
by glass (or other transparent or translucent material), and devoted to the
cultivation and protection of plants out of season or climate.

Garage- A building or part of
a building where motor vehicles are parked or housed, usually temporarily.

MFP (Multi Function Panel)- A high quality chipboard with consistent long strands,
perfect for heavy duty load bearing. The board is bonded with a high quality
melamine urea resin giving it long lasting resistance against humidity. In
appearance it has a smooth surface and it is slightly stronger than OSB.

OSB (Orientated Strand Board) –Also known as Sterling Board, formed by layering chips of
wood in specific orientations and bonding them under high temperature and
pressure in a press to form a structural board with similar properties to
plywood. In appearance it has a rough and variegated surface with the
individual strips (around 2.5 by 15 cm (approx. 1 in by 6 in) each) lying
unevenly across each other.

Pavilion- a part of a building
that projects outward from the rest, or the detached or semidetached units into
which a building is sometimes divided.

Pergola- A structure with open wood-framed
roofs, often latticed and supported by regularly spaced posts or columns, and
covered by climbing plants such as vines or roses, shading a walk or passageway
Pergolas are distinguished from "arbours" which are less extensive in
extent and structure.

Playhouse- A small house-like structure
designed for children to play in.

Roof Pitch – The
angled degree of slope of a roof (from ridge to eaves)

Shed- A small structure,
either freestanding or attached to a larger structure, serving for storage or
shelter.

Shed Base– Made from Pressure
Treated Wood or plastic, allowing a shed or garden building to be laid directly
upon unprepared ground (however the area must be level) Ideal for a Non-DIY
enthusiast as it requires no skills to prepare.

Smooth Planed Timber –Timber that has been planed to remove the rough surface

Sunhouse or Solarium- A building or room designed to receive maximum sunlight.

Summerhouse- A structure of varying
forms in gardens or parks designed to provide cool shady places of relaxation
or retreats from summer heat.

Workshops- Generally a larger
space than a standard shed for optimal space for both storage and work space
for hobbies or crafts.

There are a few key measurements which you should be considered to prevent ending up with the wrong size shed for your garden.

This diagram to the right shows you the 5 key measurements you should always look at when choosing your shed or garden building and what they mean.

We size our sheds in both metric and imperial measurements.

All of the technical details regarding each product is listed within the 'Detailed Specification' tab on each product page. Here you will find all the in-depth measurements of the shed and materials used.

If you ever need any extra guidance regarding sizing, our team of experts are always available to help and our Buying Guide has all you need to know about choosing the right shed.

Shed Features Explained

The key features of a shed are not always obvious and especially not to a novice. Who knew that sheds had different flooring material, different window materials, that the wood is treated differently and what exactly is 'Z'!? Our helpful graphic does all the talking, these are the features of a shed simplified.

Shed Sizing

Finial - Covers the join of the apex where the barge boards meet and adds a decorative feature to the shed.

Barge Boards - Used to finish off the roof apex of each shed. These vary in specification and will generally increase in thickness and width with the higher the specification/quality of shed.

Hinge - Hinges, although such a tiny proportion of your shed, they are an essential element for use. Hinges can be seen as a decorative item to add something unique to your doors but concealed hinges are used on some models, providing added security to your shed as they cannot be accessed from the outside.

'Z' Bracing - Gives both horizontal and vertical structural bracing to doors to ensure they do not drop.

Lock - All of our sheds are fitted with various specifications of a hasp and stable lock, this then provides you with the opportunity to add a padlock to keep your contents secure.

Flooring - If you’re evaluating the
cosmetic exterior of your storage building only, you’re making a big mistake.
That’s because a poor foundation sets you up for not only moisture problems
(which can wreak havoc on your expensive storage equipment) but also invites
insects (which can damage the entire framework of your storage shed). A sturdy,
Tongue & Groove floor or an OSB floor with pressure-treated floor joists
and runners is optimal in any storage building.

Bearers - Bearers are pressure treated posts which run in opposite directions to the floor joists making a criss-cross formation providing sturdy support and allowing good air circulation.

Cladding - All of our wooden sheds are clad with the highest quality timber, the type of cladding depends on which construction you choose - Overlap, Shiplap or Tongue & Groove.

Windows - You can choose to have a shed with or without windows depending on your preference. Our shed windows are typically made from either glass, styrene or polycarbonate.

Roof Bracing -A
durable, weather-proof roof will protect your storage shed (and its storage
contents) for years to come, so roof braces are advised to stop the roof from
sagging and creating potential leakage.